155 Yard Speed Lever Action Competition

Here's a fun video with lever-action rifles by Pearce Brothers Gear Guide.

Godzilla: The Monster That Defined Japan’s Pop Culture

Above, Godzilla peers over Shinjuku buildings in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan's pop-culture has numerous characters to choose from.

They run the gamut from giant monsters, anime, Pokemon, Hello Kitty, Ultraman and others. But the one character that started it all was the King of the Monsters: Godzilla.

According to an article by Takashi Nagaya at Vocal Media's Geeks website, Godzilla defined Japanese pop-culture starting in 1954. Last year, Japan celebrated Godzilla's 70th anniversary.

The article begins with:

How a Nuclear-Age Beast Became a Global Icon

Few movie monsters are as instantly recognizable as Godzilla. For over seven decades, the towering kaiju has stomped through cities, battled rival creatures, and captured the imagination of audiences worldwide. But Godzilla is more than just a movie monster—it is a cultural phenomenon that reflects Japan’s history, anxieties, and creativity.

Above, yours truly with the Godzilla statue at Toho Studios in 2010.

To read more, go here. 

Kelsey Smith: "Murdered at First Sight: Without A Trace"

Above, Kelsey Smith.

Greg Smith, father of Kelsey Smith, posted a relatively new video from the Roku Channel. It is titled, "Murdered at First Sight: Without A Trace" the story of the June 2007 kidnapping and murder of Kelsey. 

According to Greg:

This documentary was filmed last year and originally aired in the UK (and also in Europe, I think). It is now on the Roku Channel or you can click the link in Tim's post below.

I just viewed the video in its entirety and it brings back sad memories of that time. I started following the case when it first broke. I was at my mom's and Greta Van Sustern had the story on her program. It hit home with me as my daughter at the time was interested in going to veterinary school, like Kelsey, and was only a few years older. When I started following the case, Kelsey hadn't been found yet and her parents were trying to get Kelsey's cell phone ping information from the cell company. 

I followed the story on the Fox News Channel and online, even at work. It was after the police got the cell phone ping information, they were able to find Kelsey's body pretty quick. 

Above, yours truly with Greg Smith at the Kansas Capitol Building in 2016.

During my 2016 trip to Metropolis, Illinois to attend Noel Neill's celebration of life services, I stopped in the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka, Kansas for a visit with Greg Smith, who was then a state senator. That was one of the things I wanted to accomplish on the trip. It was a big honor that he took the time for me to meet him. He and his wife Missey founded the Kelsey Smith Foundation to educate people on missing persons and what to do should they find themselves in that situation. Their hard work had the Kelsey Smith Act enacted in many states.

To view the video, go here.

Top 7 Lever Guns Just Got Tactical in 2025 (You Won’t Believe #1!)

Firearms Zone posted a list of top 7 lever-action guns that just got tactical.

Summary:

Lever-action rifles aren’t just cowboy wall-hangers anymore — they’ve gone tactical in 2025. From Ruger/Marlin’s compact 1895 Trapper Magpul, to Henry’s AR-mag-fed LASR, Taylor’s wild 9mm lever, Smith & Wesson’s new 1854 Stealth Hunter, Palmetto’s budget-friendly H&R, and of course, the iconic Winchester 94 — this countdown proves the lever gun is alive and evolving.

We’re breaking down the 7 hottest lever-action rifles of 2025, showing you which ones are worth buying, and which one will completely shock you at #1.

 

RV Camping Near Utah’s Stunning National Parks

Above, Moab KOA is just minutes from Arches National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During a recent trip to Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota, we stayed a night in Moab, Utah at the Moab KOA.

As we were taking our time in going to Wyoming, we took a driving tour through Arches National Park. This was the first time I've visited the park.

Above, Arches National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This is Go RVing posted a list of RV camping near Utah's national parks. 

They begin it with:

Utah is home to some of the most iconic landscapes in the American Southwest—towering sandstone arches, sculpted red rock canyons, and vast desert vistas. For RV travelers, Utah’s national parks provide an unforgettable road trip experience. While booking a campsite inside the parks can be a challenge, there are many well-appointed, privately owned RV campgrounds just outside these parks that offer full hookups, excellent amenities, and easier availability.

Here are four of Utah’s most visited parks, along with nearby private campgrounds that offer a comfortable and convenient base for your adventures.

To read more, go here. 

Cruise Industry Suing Hawaii Over "Green Fee"

Above, a Honolulu sunset. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

"Democrats never met a tax they didn't like or hike." This was said many times by President Ronald Reagan. Such is the case with Hawaii.

Hawaii is under Democrat control much like California. They passed a "Green Fee" earlier this year on the tourism industry purportedly to fight climate change, which is bullshit anyway. 

The cruise industry is fighting back and plans on suing the state of Hawaii over this tax that's set to go into effect next year.

USA Today reported:

The cruise industry’s leading trade group is suing Hawaii over a new tax on cruises and other travel accommodations.

The state passed the country’s first “Green Fee” earlier this year, raising its transient accommodations tax by 0.75% to 11% to fund climate change resiliency projects and other environmental efforts. The increased fee, set to take effect in 2026, applies to hotels, vacation rentals and – for the first time – cruises.

Cruise Lines International Association said, in an Aug. 27 lawsuit filed in the District of Hawaii, that the change violates federal law, in part because it conflicts with the U.S. Constitution’s Tonnage Clause.

Honolulu Ship Supply Co., Kaua’i Kilohana Partners and Aloha Anuenue Tours LLC are also listed as plaintiffs. They contend that the requirements place an undue burden on cruise lines and passengers and risk undermining Hawaii cruise tourism.

To read more, go here.

Cleaning Your RV Awning

Above, making use of the awning at the Devils Tower KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RV awnings are great things to have, especially if one is camped where there are no trees around. I had to replace the awning fabric seven years ago as a small tear (from a leaning telephone pole I didn't see) got larger over the years.

Do It Yourself RV has posted an article on what to use (and what not to use) for cleaning RV awnings. Personally, I have specially-made RV awning cleaner. 

The article begins with:

It’s time to clean your RV awning. No, it’s not the most thrilling moment of your life, but it’s a job worth doing. Awnings get filthy fast, and neglecting them can cost you. Replacing one runs anywhere from $500 to $2,000, so keeping yours clean is a smart money move.

Plus, no one wants to sit under a moldy eyesore. A dirty awning can smell bad, attract bugs, work less effectively, and even pose health risks. Let’s skip that mess and go over a few simple ways to keep yours clean, functional, and campsite-ready. 

 To read more, go here.

America’s Classic Deer Rifle With A Legacy That Won’t Die

Above, yours truly with the Winchester 94.

Regular readers know that my favorite gun is my Winchester 94 .30-30 made in 1962. That is why I post quite often about the rifle.

Well, here's another article that was posted yesterday at SOFREP (Military Content Group). They give a history of the Winchester 94, particularly ones in .30-30 caliber.

They begin it with:

Introduction: A Gun That Helped Settle the Dust and the Score

Before there were red dots, polymer frames, or tacticool rail systems, there was the click-clack of a lever-action rifle, and in the American wild, that sound usually meant business. Enter the Winchester .30-30, the rifle your granddad probably used to drop whitetails and bad attitudes in the same afternoon. First introduced in 1895, this was the first commercially available rifle chambered in a smokeless powder round, and it quickly became the deer-slaying, brush-busting sweetheart of North America.

And let’s be honest, boys and girls, it still is.

A Trip Through Cowboy Country: Where the .30-30 Belongs

I just got back from Angel Fire, New Mexico, this week, which is beautiful high country that still echoes with the spirit of the old frontier. The air smells like pine, the mountains loom like ancient guardians, and every third guy you see looks like he’s one cattle drive away from drawing iron.

Walking through those sun-bleached ridges and dusty backroads, I couldn’t help but think of the rifles that built this land, and none came to mind faster than the Winchester .30-30. It belongs out there. It feels right out there. Not in some glass display case, but slung across the back of a saddle or leaned against a porch railing while the coffee percolates.

The lever-action rifle is more than a tool, it’s part of the cultural DNA of the American West.

After soaking in Angel Fire’s ranchland history and riding an appropriately named horse called Trigger, I realized the .30-30 isn’t just still relevant. It’s still home.

The writer mentioned Angel Fire, New Mexico. It is a village in the Rocky Mountains and Philmont Scout Ranch is not too far from it.

To read more, go here.

Trump DOJ Supports Cuba Lawsuit Against Cruise Lines

Above, Havana's Sierra Maestra cruise terminal. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Politics, including international trade relations, sometimes makes strange bedfellows, even involving lawsuits.

The following article caught my attention by its headline, "Trump DOJ Supports Cuba Lawsuit Against Cruise Lines".

This involves dock facilities at Havana Port that were confiscated by Cuba's communist government. I took a cruise to Havana back in April 2019 and the ship, Majesty of the Seas of Royal Caribbean, used those dock facilities after our arrival. President Trump ended vacation cruises to Cuba in June 2019.

According to Seatrade Cruise News:

The US Department of Justice wants the Supreme Court to review an appeals court decision that sided mostly with cruise lines sued for using Havana docks which had been confiscated by Cuba's communist government.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in October 2024 ruled mostly in favor of cruise companies that were sued under under Title III of the Helms-Burton or Libertad Act which allows US nationals to seek compensation for property taken over by Cuba. The US national, Havana Docks, held a concession to operate facilities that were used by Carnival Corp., Royal Caribbean Group, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and MSC Cruises.  

Appeals court decision

The appeals court determined the property of Havana Docks confiscated by Cuba was the concession right to operate and profit from the docks for 99 years, which was set to expire in 2004. The facilities were used by the cruise lines from 2016 to 2019. The court said Havana Docks did not own the real property but had the concession right to operate and benefit from the port.

Above, yours truly at Havana Port just after our arrival.

To read more, go here. 

Minneapolis Shooting and Mental Health

Above, the shooter, Robin Westman.

The following was posted by Jamie Fraser-Page, the administrator of the Facebook page, Gun Owners of New Mexico:

It was impossible to avoid hearing about the shooting at a Catholic Church in Minneapolis, a parish church with a school attached not unlike the one in my neighborhood in Queens where several of my friends went. Some deranged individual, armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol fired all of them into the church where grade school kids were at prayer on the second day of the school year. 

The coward took her own life. Or his life. The shooter was a transgender person, which will no doubt become part of the narrative from one side, just like the three firearms will become the main point from the other side. Neither fact is the reason this happened. It happened because people who knew this person and saw their descent into madness did nothing to stop it.

There were a lot of indicators. Detached, isolated, creating a YouTube manifesto to explain the inexplicable - why anyone would shoot into a church filled with kids from the ages of 6 and 14, killing two, 8 and 10 and wounding 14 others as well as three parishioners in their 80s.  The shooter entered the church only after their deadly fusillade of gunfire ceased to end their life with a self-inflicted gunshot would.

We need to ask why no one saw this coming. Friends, parents, followers on YouTube and other social media must have known. And, assuming they could see it coming, why - why - did they do nothing to intervene and stop it before it started? 

I wonder if this person's change from Robert to Robin was influenced by the increased normalization of transgenderism and by the incessant progressive's preaching abut "toxic masculinity. Perhaps for some M->F transgenders among the young their decision to identify as female is driven or exacerbated by a feeling of being treated as "toxic" by some. 

While transgendered individuals according to several studies are only 0.6% of the population the number of young people ages 13 to 24,  is twice the average across all ages. I am not saying that there is a direct connection between a person identifying as non-binary or transgender means that they will become mass shooters, just that among those who seem driven to this aberration it might be a contributing factor. Food for thought, at least. 

We do a terrible job of identifying and treating the mentally ill. It is still an affliction viewed with a great deal of ignorance and fear - needlessly, since most people with mental health issues pose no threat to others and even little threat to themselves. But those who harbor suicidal and/or homicidal ideation - two sides of the same coin according to some - do pose such a threat. Few mass shooters are taken alive. After inflicting carnage on others they either take their own lives or force suicide by cop by taking precipitous action to trigger a lethal response.

We need to stop using these tragedies to further the agendas of the left or the right and actually *do* something to identify and fix the problem.  So many mass shooters give a lot of notice that they are going to do something horrific. We need to listen, watch and get them the help they need, intervene to prevent them from carrying out these acts. 

And, yes, when identified, they should be prevented from legally acquiring firearms. For nearly 60 years I have advocated for stripping from our laws the infringements to exercising our right to keep and bear arms protected by the 2nd Amendment . But I also feel that if a person is adjudicated a danger to self or others they need to be barred from access to firearms and explosives. And, if evidence is presented to a court of a credible threat, while a person's mental health is evaluated to rule out it posing a threat to self or others, they should not have access to firearms. This does not mean I support so-called Red Flag laws, since those lack due process. No right should be infringed upn nor abridged but by due process.

In the end, we as a society need to actually care - give a damn - about the incidents like this, which, though relatively rare compared to other types of killings happen far too frequently and are often preventable if due care is exercised. We need to push our elected representatives to create and fund programs to identify and get treatment for the millions of people with mental health issues and not turn a cold shoulder and a blind eye to their affliction. Out schools need to be especially observant of the signs and precursors of such acts and move to thwart them early by getting the individuals help. And, we need to consider having trained armed individuals in our schools and other places which have been targets in the past. And we need t avoid situations of command paralysis such as the one in Uvalde, TX. There is a lot we can do but we, the people need to push to make it happen. And it begins with giving a damn.

Silver Over $39

Silver has risen to over $39/toz.

As it now stands, silver's spot price is at $39.270/toz at Comex.

 Can we expect it to go over $40.00? 

The Best Time To Book A Cruise

Above, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship docked at Havana Port in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Taking a cruise is a growing means of traveling. More people are "diving in" to this mode of travel.

One may ask, "When is the best time to book a cruise for the lowest prices and best perks?" Southern Living has posted an article that answers that question.

They begin it with:

Booking a cruise can feel like a game of chance—but when you book may matter just as much as where you sail. Prices can swing hundreds of dollars depending on timing, and certain itineraries sell out months, if not a year or more, in advance. 

“That timeline can shift depending on the destination,” says Atlanta-based Michael Consoli, Cruise Planners travel advisor for nearly 25 years who books about 4,500 cruise customers annually.

Whether you're dreaming of a Royal Caribbean escape or a once-in-a-lifetime summer voyage on Viking to chase the midnight sun in Norway, here's how to book smart and maximize your experience.

To read more, go here. 

Why Cracker Barrel's Iconic Decor Was So Sentimental

Above, a hot-air balloon as seen from an Albuquerque Cracker Barrel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Let's see. In recent years I have been to at least four Cracker Barrel restaurants.

I've been to the one in Gallup, New Mexico. I've been to two in Albuquerque, New Mexico. And, I've been to one in Kingman, Arizona.

Above, the fireplace at an Albuquerque Cracker Barrel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

All of them looked pretty much the same with the same antiques. The sameness doesn't bother me. It is fun looking at the antiques while waiting for the meals to be served. Looking at the items from bygone eras is the big draw for people. Ruining that would be worse than the logo fiasco. Also, the food, for me, has been consistently good. I've no complaints.

Above, an Elvis Presley gospel CD from Cracker Barrel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's an interesting story about how Cracker Barrel acquires their antiques. The article also tells of the warehouse that stores them.

Above, the Gallup Cracker Barrel fireplace. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The article is posted by TastingTable and it begins with:

Cracker Barrel has been making a lot of changes lately, and many of them aren't landing well with longtime fans. Most recently, the chain of restaurants and retail stores removed Uncle Hershel from the logo and received backlash for it. Last year, the chain modernized the interiors of the restaurants, and that, too, came under scrutiny. The old-fashioned interiors of Cracker Barrel restaurants held a lot of nostalgia, so it's not surprising that diners didn't like it when the look changed so drastically. It turns out that the restaurants are just doing a little refresh and, in response to a viral TikTok video, they assured patrons that the old-timey decor would be back on the walls sooner rather than later.

What you may not know is that the old decor actually holds meaning. Every single antique that decorates the inside of a Cracker Barrel is real and was at least inspired by local history. It all started with the first restaurant-store that opened in Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1969. Founder Dan Evins enlisted the help of Don and Kathleen Singleton, who owned a local antiques store, to come and decorate the interior to feel like an old country store.

As Evins opened more Cracker Barrels, the Singletons came on board as full-time designers, setting up the decor for each location. In 1979, after Kathleen got sick, their son, Larry Singleton, took over. He retired in 2018 after almost 40 years. Joe Stewart, who worked with Singleton for 33 years, is now the decor manager. 

Above, Russell Azbill and Larry Lucier getting their orders
taken at the Gallup Cracker Barrel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.

Trump Breaks Silence After Forcing Cracker Barrel To CHANGE Logo

Benny Johnson weighs in on Cracker Barrel's cancellation of the new logo. 

Bigfoot vs. Bear

This is funny! It is likely a man in costume "fighting" a trained bear. But if Bigfoots (Bigfeet?) actually do exist, maybe there's been skirmishes between them and bears. 

Interesting food for thought. My money would be on the bear.

White House Trolls Cracker Barrel Logo

Before the announcement that Cracker Barrel was dropping the misguided plan to change its logo, the White House trolled the restaurant company with an image of President Trump with a parody of their old logo.

And, no, the above image isn't the one the White House posted. I found this one at Facebook.

According to the Gateway Pundit:

The White House trolled Cracker Barrel by posting a parody of the company’s old logo with President Donald Trump replacing Uncle Herschel and captioning it “go woke, go broke.”

The image also features the words “America First” replacing the company name and “AMERICA IS BACK” at the bottom.

The restaurant chain, long beloved for its traditional American charm, faced a storm of criticism after unveiling a modernized logo that ditched iconic elements like Uncle Herschel, the barrel, and the “Old Country Store” tagline. 

To read more and see the image, go here. 

Cracker Barrel Drops New Logo

Above, the old logo is staying.

Cracker Barrel made a big "about face" and reversed course yesterday when they announced that they will drop the new logo and retain the old one.

NewsBreak reported:

Cracker Barrel announced Aug. 26 that it is dropping its much-criticized new logo and returning to the "Old Timer."

"We thank our guests for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel. We said we would listen, and we have," the company wrote in a statement provided to USA TODAY. "Our new logo is going away and our 'Old Timer' will remain."

The nationwide restaurant chain and country store, which is known for its comfort food and nostalgic atmosphere, unveiled a new, simplified logo with the launch of a fall menu campaign on Aug. 19.

The "enhanced brand look" was intended to modernize the company's brand, executives said. The intent includes moving its restaurants away from nostalgia-rich decor to something more contemporary and less cluttered.

The change drew sharp criticism from customers and politicians, with both President Donald Trump and the Democratic Party decrying the change. 

Unless Cracker Barrel decides to retain the decor that people love, it is too early to break out the champagne bottles.

To read more, go here. 

Cracker Barrel's Peg Game Changed

Above, yours truly playing the peg game at the Gallup Cracker Barrel. Photo by Larry Lucier.

Along with remodeling their restaurant interiors into banal crap that looks more like a Denny's and the logo change, Cracker Barrel has also changed their classic table peg game.

Some have speculated that the game was changed so that some players won't be offended. I have a Cracker Barrel peg game and I found the wording to be funny in a silly way. 

According to Fox News:

Cracker Barrel has altered the language on its classic table peg game amid the chain’s controversial rebrand, and, like its logo change, the move is not going over well with everyone.

The game that's on all the restaurant's tables previously poked good-natured fun at struggling players, where the goal is to remove all the pegs but one by jumping over them on the board: "Leave only one - you’re a genius. Leave two and you’re purty smart. Leave three and you’re just plain dumb. Leave four or mor’n you’re just plain eg-no-ra-moose."

Now, peg games say if you leave three or more, "Don't be embarassed [sic], try again!" The word was misspelled on a board photographed by Fox News Digital, with only one "r" in embarrassed.

"The peg game is still the same peg game our guests have known and loved for years, and some may look visually different now, but the rules and fun remain completely unchanged," a Cracker Barrel spokesperson told Country Living.

Above, the old peg game in my collection. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I am wondering if Cracker Barrel's misspelling was E Clampus Vitus inspired. It is a Clamper tradition to have a misspelled word on their plaques.

To read more, go here.  

Finally, Some Monsoon Activity

Above, a normal monsoon season. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Finally, we're getting some more monsoon season thunderstorm activity in the Gallup-Jamestown area.

For the past two days (and last night), we've been getting some rain in the area including a few downpours with accompanying lightning. This is welcome as it has been a relatively dry monsoon season. 

According to the National Weather Service, the week is shaping up as follows:

Overnight

A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday Night

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday

Scattered showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 9am. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Wednesday Night

Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then isolated showers between 9pm and midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday

Isolated showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.

Friday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 80.

Winchester 1894 In IMFDB

Above, a Winchester Model 1894 Saddle Ring Carbine. IMFDB photo.

Yesterday, I was alerted about a new (not sure how new) page for the Winchester 1894 (a.k.a. Winchester 94) rifle by the Internet Movie Firearms Database (IMFDB).

In it, it provides information on different variations of the rifle and a listing of what movies it appeared in over the years. 

The page's summary is as follows: 

The Winchester Model 1894 is a lever-action rifle developed by the famed John Moses Browning, as a follow-on to his previous Model 1892 design; it uses many of the same parts as that rifle, and could be made with few alterations to its production tooling, notably having a nearly identically-sized receiver that could be made with the same rough blanks. Despite this, it was designed to use larger, more powerful cartridges (ballistically comparable to modern intermediates, though many were sized more comparably to full-powered rounds), including the .38-55, .32-40, and the famed .30-30 WCF; to permit the cycling of these much longer cartridges in an action originally designed for pistol-caliber rounds, the Model 1894 uses a rather unique system wherein the entire bottom of the receiver hinges down when the action is cycled, granting a longer throw of the lever that permits a correspondingly-longer stroke of the bolt, allowing a much longer cartridge to be cycled in and out of the chamber.

Due to its re-use of the Model 1892's receiver size, the 1892 and 1894 can be somewhat difficult to distinguish at a glance; if the rifle isn't shown with its action open (as this allows the aforementioned pivoting receiver floor to be seen), the 1894's proportionally longer loading gate can be used for an ID, as can a pin at the bottom-front of the receiver (used to allow the receiver floor to pivot) that the 1892 lacks.

Interestingly, the Winchester 1894 appeared in such movies as 1941, Night of The Living Dead, Green Mile, The Untouchables and Brokeback Mountain.

To access the page, go here.

Cracker Barrel Responds

Cracker Barrel has responded to the massive uproar over their rebranding of their logo and the interiors.

To me, it is nothing more than B.S. and a feeble attempt at damage control. As one person responded, "You wrote all that just to basically say “screw you, deal with it.”" Another wrote, "The biggest insult to your customers is acting like you hear them but doing the complete opposite."

The rebranding isn't "woke", it is their behind-the-scenes leftist practices as was exposed here. The rebranding just made everything come to light.

40 Years of "Godzilla 1985"

It is hard to believe that 40 years has passed since the release of the Americanized Godzilla 1985 (an edited version of Return of Godzilla (1984) by Toho Co., Ltd.) was released to U.S. theaters. The U.S. release was on August 23, 1985 by the now-defunct New World Pictures.

It featured Raymond Burr reprising his role as Steve Martin from Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1956). 

It was in August 1985 that I was house-sitting a friend's condo in Canoga Park. I found that Godzilla 1985 was being shown at the Van Nuys Drive-In. So, I headed there to see it during its 10:00 PM screening. It was the first Godzilla movie that I saw in a theater since I saw King Kong vs.Godzilla in 1963. The rest I saw on television.

Since then, the Van Nuys Drive-In has been demolished in the late 1990s.

As for Godzilla 1985, it has not seen a video release since VHS days as the rights to the movie are in limbo. It was released in VHS format several times and paired with Bambi Meets Godzilla, an animated short. I have a copy of one of these versions. It has never seen a DVD or Blu-ray release.

5 Lessons Learned From A Century With the .30-30 Winchester

Video from Beam Firearms. 

Summary:

After more than a century in the field, the .30-30 Winchester is still proving itself. I’ve seen plenty of new calibers and “next big things” come and go, but when you’re in the brush, chasing whitetail, or packing light for a long hunt, the .30-30 keeps showing why it earned its place in American hunting history.

In this video, we’re breaking down five lever action rifles chambered in .30-30 Winchester that continue to hold strong in 2025. Each one represents lessons learned over years of real hunting and field experience.

Top 10 Rifles Every Senior Will LOVE In 2025

Video from Survival Picks. 

Summary:

Here is the list of Best Affordable & Reliable Rifles for Seniors we featured in this video

For seniors seeking lightweight, dependable, and affordable rifles, this roundup highlights some of the most user-friendly firearms of 2025. Each rifle combines low recoil with reliable performance, making them ideal for older shooters who want comfort without sacrificing accuracy or quality. From classic lever actions to modern compact carbines, these rifles cover everything from plinking and small game hunting to practical home defense. Whether you’re easing back into shooting or continuing decades of range experience, these rifles deliver trusted performance at a senior-friendly level.  

Eight Million Page Views!

In only two months, the ol' Rancho hobby blog hit a new milestone.

This morning, it reached eight million page views. This is the fastest it hit a million milestone in its history. It was only in July that it hit seven million page views. 

Accordingly, the header has been updated to reflect the change.

Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist. 

To start off the week we have Johnny Nash with his hit, "I Can See Clearly Now" from 1972. I still remember the first time I heard this song. A date and I were on the California Highway 60 (Pomona Freeway) on the way to the Los Angeles County Fair when the song came on the radio.

From Wikipedia:

John Lester Nash Jr. (August 19, 1940 – October 6, 2020) was an American singer and songwriter, best known in the United States for his 1972 hit "I Can See Clearly Now". Primarily a reggae and pop singer, he was one of the first non-Jamaican artists to record reggae music in Kingston.   

"I Can See Clearly Now" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 4, 1972, and remained atop the chart for four weeks, spending the same four weeks atop the adult contemporary chart. 

Insider Investigation Exposes Cracker Barrel

Oh-oh! It looks like Cracker Barrel has been far left woke longer than we've imagined.

An insider investigation exposes the company's practices that will leave your head spinning. Check out the comments after seeing the video.

 

James Woods On Cracker Barrel

James Woods weighs in on Cracker Barrel's CEO Julie Felss Masino. She's either delusional or just listening to her own little bubble.

Honestly does anyone believe her? I’m not calling her a liar, I’m just asking if any single person in his or her right mind believes her. https://t.co/Pag1oyFjLs

— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) August 23, 2025

Bison Safety

Above, a couple of lounging bison at Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Every so often, I read about people at Yellowstone National Park (and elsewhere) getting gored by a bison. These incidents aren't the bison's fault, they are the fault of stupid and careless people.

RV Travel posted an article with a video on bison safety. It includes tips on what to do, what to look out for and what not to do.

They begin it with:

A sighting of bison, the largest wild animal roaming North America, tops many an RVer’s bucket list experience. But to keep the experience positive for humans and bison, some basic bison safety and etiquette rules are necessary. Especially for RV travelers who might actually encounter bison in the wild. See the video at the bottom of this article.

As awe-inspiring as bison may be, never forget they are also massive muscular walls of brute strength that also come equipped with sharp horns. Even though their size might make them appear slow, bison are surprisingly agile and fast!

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Education channel produced the video (near the bottom of this article) so that visitors know proper bison etiquette in order to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit to their state park. However, you need not be in Texas to benefit from this video. American bison in any state can be expected to react in the same ways.

To see the video and read more, go here. 

Poll Results of Renting Out One's RV

Above, at Santa Fe Skies RV Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When people shell out thousands of dollars for a recreational vehicle, renting out or loaning it to someone else seems like a crazy idea to me.

I have read about people renting out their RVs over the years and it just struck me as something I would never do. I paid too much money for my RV to allow someone else trash it.

According to an article/poll in RV Travel, the vast majority of RV owners agree with me.

They begin with:

Last week, we asked you if you’d ever consider renting out your RV through a peer-to-peer rental company (like Outdoorsy, RVshare, etc.). Out of 1,387 votes, the results were pretty decisive:

• 1% said “Yes, I plan to one day.”

• 9% said they’ve thought about it but will likely never do it.

• 89% said no, they would never rent out their RV.

Clearly, most of you are keeping your keys to yourself!

Many of you explained why in the comments, and the recurring theme was simple: Nobody will ever care for your RV the way you do. As Rich put it: “Simple reason why we would NEVER rent or loan our RV… nobody would take care of it like we would.”

To read more, go here. 

"Gutfeld" Reacts To Cracker Barrel's Rebrand

Greg Gutfeld and guests react to Cracker Barrel rebrand. 

"It's not easy to do a remarkably bad job, where you unite two sides that agree on very little, that you've f*cked up!"

 

Electronic Sign Skewers Newsom

 

BREAKING - Someone has set up an electronic billboard displaying all of Gavin Newsom’s “accomplishments” in California, and it’s driving liberals crazy. pic.twitter.com/f2rU8E6ySd

— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) August 22, 2025

Cracker Barrel's One Savior On The Planet

 

Do They Really Want To Know?

I spotted this over at X a few minutes ago.

Do they really want to know? 

 

The new Cracker Barrel looks like a car dealership. https://t.co/QxFcwmmFLb

— Carol M. Swain, PhD (@carolmswain) August 22, 2025

Yes, it does look like a car dealership instead of a Cracker Barrel restaurant

Foreign Visitors To Japan Hits Record 3.43 Million In July

Above, Fukuoka Tower, featured in Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Travel to Japan by foreigners in July hit a new record. As G-TOUR 5 took place in July, its numbers were likely included in the tally.

Nippon.com reported:

Tokyo, Aug. 20 (Jiji Press)--The estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan in July rose 4.4 pct from a year before to 3,437,000, a record high for the month, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Wednesday.

The latest figure surpassed the previous July record of 3,292,602, set last year, driven by an increase in visitors, primarily from mainland China, Taiwan, the United States and France, during school holidays.

 To read more, go here.

Forbes: The Truth About Cruise Ship Internet

Above, the Norwegian Sky at Great Stirrup Cay. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If I ever go on another cruise in the future, I am leaving my laptop computer at home.

Last summer, I brought it along for the Bahamas cruise, but I ended up not even taking it out of the suitcase. Why? Internet access aboard the cruise ship was too expensive. I limited my usage to the free access time on my phone or the public WiFi at different ports such as Freeport and Nassau. When not in use, I always put my phone on Airplane Mode to keep from being charged any money.

Forbes has posted an article on the truth about cruise ship Internet and how to get it cheaper.

They begin with:

Until recently, cruise ship internet had a reputation for being slow, patchy, and overpriced. Modern systems have improved dramatically, but the price tag has not shifted much. Mainstream cruise lines still treat connectivity as a premium add-on.

Even with Starlink and other low-orbit networks, the infrastructure costs are significant. The hardware is expensive and bandwidth must be shared among thousands of passengers and crew members. When demand peaks, such as during sea days, speeds can slow.

Most lines charge either by the day or for the duration of the cruise, with higher-tier packages including access to streaming services such as YouTube. The costs quickly add up, especially on longer sailings and on lines that charge by device.

To read more, go here. 

Cracker Barrel Loses Almost $100 Million In Value

Above, the Cracker Barrel fireplace we know and love. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Some people seem to have very short memories.

Remember when Bud Light and Target department stores "went woke" a few short years ago? Most of us do remember and are reminding Cracker Barrel's CEO Julie Felss Masino and her board of directors.

Remember, too, how stocks in those companies took deep nosedives. This is now happening to Cracker Barrel.

From CBS News:

Cracker Barrel shed almost $100 million in market value after its stock plunged Thursday following the release of a new logo. The new design eliminates a longstanding drawing of an overall-clad man leaning against a barrel, in favor of a cleaner logo featuring just the chain's name.

Shares of Cracker Barrel fell $4.22, or 7.2%, to $54.80 in Thursday trading, shedding $94 million in market value. The stock had dipped to a low of $50.27 earlier in the day, representing a loss of almost $200 billion in its capitalization.

Wall Street's reaction to the logo redesign comes as Cracker Barrel has been working to refresh its image through new menu items and redecorated stores that eschew the 55-year-old chain's old-timey approach in favor of a more modern look.

To say that the "fit hit the shan" (cleaned up version) with the public is an understatement.

Go woke, go broke!

To read more, go here.

Democrats, Newsom Hate Cracker Barrel Changes Too

"Politics makes strange bedfellows" it has been said.

Apparently, so does Cracker Barrel.

With the announced change in Cracker Barrel's logo and the remodeling of their restaurants to a brighter and bland decor, the Democrat Party and California Gov. Gavin Newsom weighed in.

They actually agree with the conservative detractors of the changes.

According to Fox News:

The Democratic Party and California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office's X accounts joined the backlash against Cracker Barrel after it released its new text-only logo earlier this week.

The company unveiled the new logo on Tuesday as part of its new branding campaign for the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurants. The campaign eliminated the image of a man resting on a barrel in favor of a text-only logo for the first time since 1977. 

While conservative critics have piled on the new redesign, both the Democratic Party and the liberal governor’s media team put out tweets Thursday calling out the Tennessee-based restaurant chain for the change.

Will wonders ever cease? It must mean that the changes are so bad that they, too, don't like them. Welcome aboard!

To read more, go here. 

Cracker Barrel Stock COLLAPSES 55%! (Video)

I would have posted this earlier, but after sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic for 45 minutes on Interstate 40 in the heat, I had to take a nap. 

Now that I am awake, I can post this. 

Cracker Barrel stock lost 55% in value since their woke wacko CEO Julie Felss Masino started destroying the Cracker Barrel brand.

This was easily predictable (just look at Bud Light's experience). 

Again, here's The Benny Show's new video (thanks to my Honorary Sister Diane for passing this along):

 

A lesson for other corporations: don't let liberal women become your CEOs!

GO WOKE, GO BROKE!

New Mexico's Highest-Rated Breweries

Above, the indoor beer bar and lobby of Sierra Blanca Brewing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Believe it or not, New Mexico has wineries. So far, I haven't been to any, but I plan to eventually.

New Mexico also has plenty of beer breweries. A lot of them are craft beers.

Since I discovered Alien Amber Ale at the brewpub at the Albuquerque Sunport, it has been my favorite beer. It is brewed in Moriarty, New Mexico by Sierra Blanca Brewing. I visited the brewery last year while en route to Fort Sumner.

Above, yours truly having an Alien Amber Ale last year at Sierra Blanca Brewing.

According to KRQE, TripAdvisor has a list of the highest-rated breweries in New Mexico. Sierra Blanca Brewing is number 13 on the list.

Above, the outdoor beer bar at Sierra Blanca Brewing. Photo by armand Vaquer.

KRQE begins with:

(STACKER) – Cold beer, anyone? American beer drinkers have their fair share of options no matter where they might live.

Indeed, a market once dominated by a handful of major brands has become far more diverse since the craft beer scene expanded sixfold between 2008 and 2016. Independent production cooled off just a little in 2023 but still accounted for a whopping 23.4 million barrels of beer and craft beer’s overall market share by volume rose to 13.3%, according to the Brewers Association. For context, in 2013, there were 3,108 craft breweries in the U.S.—and as of 2023, there are 9,761, representing a 214% increase in just a decade. Cheers to that!

Why the ongoing obsession? Putting aside the fact that people simply love their brew, beer has emerged as a wildly versatile beverage category. Craft breweries explore beer to its fullest potential and tend to rank highly as a result.

Another thing about beer is that every sip tells a story. It’s first and foremost the journey of the beer’s own production, namely one involving water, malted grains, botanical hops, and yeast. However, it’s also a chronicling of the area in which the beer was produced since every state has its own respective history, climate, geography, and resources. Then there’s the tale of the people who produced it, turning their love of carbonated alcohol into a passion project and hiring all kinds of local talent.

Combine America’s love of beer with endless flavor possibilities, and you arrive at a sensational pastime and a thriving national industry. With nearly 10,000 craft breweries bubbling up across the nation, each one offers its own unique qualities, some complete with guided tours and tasting rooms (and maybe some hearty gastropub fare).

Many of the nation’s highest-rated breweries are so small and independent that the only way to sample their suds is to visit them in person, while others distribute their products around the country—or even across the globe.

To find some top spots near you, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breweries in New Mexico using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, a business with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of June 6, 2024. 

To see the list of highest-rated New Mexico breweries, go here.